CrystalCoast.com logo

2026 Beaufort Hiking Spots Guide

Crystal Coast Map
Emerald Isle Indian Beach Pine Knoll Shores Atlantic Beach Shackleford Banks Beaufort Morehead City Cape Lookout Cedar Island Harkers Island New Bern
Events
(More Events)
3 blocks from Taylors Creek, 1 mile from...

2 bedroom, 1 bath home with fenced backyard & space to park your boat. This home is in the ideal location to discover Beaufort, NC & the surrounding areas. Walk 3 blocks to Taylors Creek for impressive vistas of the water and wild horses. Just 1...

  • Beaufort
  • 2 Bedrooms
  • 1 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 6
Oceanfront home with breathtaking views,...

Unwind with the whole family at this calming place to stay. If you have a sizable family and need an additional space, you can always rent the East side as well, - check out `Oceanfront home with gorgeous vistas, East!`Location, location, location...

  • Emerald Isle
  • 4 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 10
Lookout Cruises

Visitors can enjoy the Crystal Coast’s most coveted and hard-to-reach shorelines, or just embark on a breezy cruise of the open waters in search of dolphins and sunsets, with a trip that’s guided by Lookout Cruises. This local tour...

  Oceanfront Home with Coastal Charm

Treat your friends and family to this mid-century architectural gem and appreciate charming vistas of pristine beach and the namesake waters of the Crystal Coast. With so many amenities, including a screened-in porch, outdoor shower, and other...

  • Pine Knoll Shores
  • 5 Bedrooms
  • 3 Bathrooms
  • Sleeps 14
Island Ferry Adventures

Bird Shoal, Carrot Island, Sand Dollar Island & more! Dive into an exploration of some of the Southern Outer Banks’ most remote shorelines with an excursion that’s led by Island Ferry Adventures. Featuring both transport to the...

Island Ferry Adventures

Bird Shoal, Carrot Island, Sand Dollar Island & more! Dive into an exploration of some of the Southern Outer Banks’ most remote shorelines with an excursion that’s led by Island Ferry Adventures. Featuring both transport to the outlying islands as well as guided tours of some of the region’s most wild spots, this tour company has a lot to offer for shell seekers, nature buffs, and everyday adventurers alike.

Island Express Ferry Service

Island Express Ferry Service LLC is the only authorized concessionaire to drop off at Cape Lookout Lighthouse and Shackleford Banks! Offering departures from both Beaufort and nearby Harkers Island, Island Express Ferry Service serves as the link between the communities of the Crystal Coast and the spectacularly beautiful and isolated barrier islands of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. Accommodating passengers who want to explore the miles of pristine beaches, exceptional fishing and...

Shackleford Wild Horse & Shelling Safari

Take a quick and scenic ferry ride with your experienced guide over to the pristine Outer Banks Island of Shackleford Banks, which is part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore. There, you are introduced to the wild horses of Shackleford Banks. After the tour, you are directed to one of the best shelling beaches in all of North Carolina, where you can spend some time shelling your way down the beach with Cape Lookout Lighthouse off in the distance. Shackleford is well known as one of the...

Rachel Carson Coastal Reserve

The Rachel Carson Coastal Reserve is a stunning stretch of barely-barrier island shoreline that’s found just off the coast of historic Downtown Beaufort. Covering 2,205 acres, this collection of three islands that are found along...